Oyo Govt, Security Agencies Intervene as Yoruba-Hausa Clash Leaves Two Dead in Ibadan

The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, has appealed to aggrieved youths to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands following two reported deaths during a violent clash in the Ojoo area of Ibadan.

Lawal made the appeal on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of properties destroyed in the unrest, which involved members of the Yoruba and Hausa communities in Akinyele Local Government Area.

Arriving shortly after security operatives restored order, the deputy governor stressed that every Nigerian, regardless of ethnic background, has the constitutional right to live in any part of the country.

He assured residents that the state government would not allow criminal elements to exploit the incident to incite ethnic violence or spark a tribal conflict.

Lawal also vowed that those responsible for the violence would be identified, arrested and prosecuted, urging residents to allow security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

According to an eyewitness, John Ezekiel, the crisis began on Tuesday night following a disagreement between a Point of Sale (POS) operator and a Hausa resident.

The altercation reportedly escalated into a physical fight, during which the POS operator lost his life.

News of the killing triggered protests by youths on Wednesday morning, but the demonstration later turned violent, resulting in the death of a teenager.

The violence further escalated into the destruction and burning of property before security personnel intervened to restore calm.

Authorities say investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring those responsible to justice.